Pitts Model 12 ZK-PTS Has Flown

John Eaton's Pitts Model 12 made its first flight from North Shore airfield today, flown by Richard Hood. This is another aircraft with an amazing finish and the photo (taken yesterday) doesn't really do justice to the deep iridescent purple and black colours.

The Pitts Model 12 is a hugely powerful aircraft that is powered by 400 HP Vedeneyev supercharged radial engine which gives a rate of climb of 3000 feet per minute! The maximum takeoff weight is only around 1020 Kg and the rate of roll is 240 degrees per second!

According to the Pitts Model 12 website, John's aircraft is the 51st Model 12 to fly worldwide. The whole lot (apart from 50 and 51) are photographed at http://www.pittsmodel12.com/